Turkey withdrew from the Council of Europe's convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, popularly known as the Istanbul Convention [7], by a presidential decree announced [12] in the official gazette March 20. The Istanbul Convention seeks to "protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence." It is the first legally binding instrument in Europe to combat violence against women. Turkey was the first country to sign the convention the day it was launched [8] in the city of Istanbul in May 2011.
Femicides and domestic violence cases are on the rise in Turkey. While the country does not maintain official records of the number og violent crimes against women, according to the We Will End Femicide Platform [13]'s 2020 report, 300 femicides were committed and 171 women were found dead in suspicious circumstances during the year.
Responding to the announcement of the withdrawal, Council of Europe secretary general Marija Pejčinović Burić stated [14], "This move is a huge setback to these efforts and all the more deplorable because it compromises the protection of women in Turkey, across Europe and beyond."
The Women's Coalition-Turkey [15] said in a press release [16], "It is clear that this decision will further encourage the murderers of women, harassers, rapers."
Members of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's AK Parti [17] and other conservatives lobbied against the convention last year, arguing that it encourages divorces and undermines family structures. Those in favor of withdrawal also argued that its principles of gender equality and non-discrimination on grounds of gender identity or sexual orientation encourage homosexuality, which has actually been legal in the country since 1858 [18].
Vice President Fuat Oktay tweeted [19], "We are determined to carry our sincere struggle to raise the dignity...of Turkish women in society to the levels they deserve, by preserving our traditional social fabric. For this sublime purpose, there is no need to look outside or imitate others. The solution is in our traditions and customs, in our essence."
Opposition leaders and some attorneys said Erdoğan cannot withdraw from a convention without parliamentary approval. Upon his reelection in 2018, Erdoğan acquired new executive powers [20]. Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül tweeted [21], "The procedure for the approval and enforcement of international conventions is clear in our law. Parliament approves the participation, and the executive enforces it with a decision. The suspension and termination...in the same way is under the authority of the executive."
Thousands immediately took to the streets [9] in protest of Erdoğan's decision.
Poland, which announced its decision to withdraw [22] from the convention in July of last year, is also set to do so in the coming months.
From Jurist [23], March 21. Used with permission.
